Elgin City Footballer Accused Of Match Betting Fraud Charge

7 March 2023
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A Scottish league footballer accused of hatching a plot with buddies to defraud a bookie had more than ₤ 2,000 in his bedside drawer, a trial heard.


Elgin City striker Kane Hester was found with the cash when his household home was robbed.


He denies backing himself to get reserved during a match versus Hibs as part of a plan with three others to defraud Bet365.


Findlay Soutar, Calvin Parrott and Brodie Myres likewise reject the charge.


In a joint declaration agreed by the Crown and defence lawyers, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had selected up a yellow card during the very first half of the Scottish League Cup video game.


It likewise confirmed that the 3 other implicated had actually undertaken a number of monetary transactions in the hours before the match in July 2019.


Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan checked out the statement to jurors at Dundee Sheriff Court where the implicated, all from Montrose, have gone on trial.


Suspicious wagering patterns


Mr Duncan said it was concurred as truth that Mr Myres had actually paid money into Mr Soutar's account and also into an account belonging to Mr Parrott.


He stated bets worth countless pounds had been placed on Mr Hester getting reserved and the bookie had actually paid earnings at chances of 5-1.


Mr Duncan said it was concurred that mix bets - including Mr Hester getting a yellow card - were likewise put and won by members of the implicated group.


The Scottish Football Association stepped in to produce a performance review of Mr Hester during the match after looking out about suspicious betting patterns on the video game.


The court was of Hester's home being robbed and the footballer telling officers he understood what they were there for and would take them to the money.


Hester said: "Do you understand what would be easier? I know what you are discussing. There's no point mucking you about.


"I've got the cash, it's at home. If I take you home and give you the money, that's what occurred.


"I was scheduled in a video game and my friends provided me cash for it - ₤ 2,500."


Mr Hester is alleged to have plotted before the match with three others to put a series of bets on him being reserved by the referee.


The court heard ₤ 2,400 was later found in his bedside drawer.


The charge declares the 4 males got ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, which ₤ 13,583.32 of it was acquired as illegal payouts.


An alternate version of the charge declares they cheated at gambling by positioning five bets on Mr Hester being booked which he was revealed a yellow card for a foul, leading to them wrongly acquiring ₤ 13,583.32 in jackpots.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose